Improvement in hand-stamps



@duced tant @anni Gettin.

MARCUS P. NORTON, OF TROY, NEIVIYORK,

L cttcrs Patent No. 92,688, lated July 13, 1869; entf/dated Juni/10,1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN HAND-STAMPS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part ofthesame.

that the following specifications are a clear, full7 and exactdescription of the same, as to the construction and operation thereof,reference being hereby had to the accompanying drawings, making apartvthereof, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Like ietters represent and referto like or correspond-l ing parts. I

Figure l is a face view, showing the device for the post-marking ofletters, envelopes, packets, Cac., with the name ofthe post-otlice wherethe letter', envelope, or packet is deposited for transportation in orby the mails, together with the date thereof, andralso show. ing thedevice, of cork, or other suitable material, for the effectualcancellation of the ypostage-stamp upon such letter, envelope, orpacket, at the moment of the giving of the post-mark impression, eachand all of which will be more fully described and set forth hereinafter.

Figure 2 represents a vertical section on the4 line a and a, lig. l.

Figure 3 represents a cross section on the line l) and b of fig. 2, andshowing the ferrule or downward recess, to receive and contain the lowerend of the operating-handle, also other parts or portions of my saidinvention and improvements, hereinafter described and set forth more indetail.

The nature of my said invention and improvements consists inconstructing, arranging, and combining upon and in one solid piece ofsuitable metal, the die for stamping and impressing, or printing thename ofthe post-oliice where used, and the date thereof', also, the diefor giving the cancelling-marks, configuration, or impression upon thepostage-stamp, in s uch manner as to prevent fraud by the second orre-use of the same, while the post-markingr` aforesaid is being doneupon such letter, envelope, or packet.

It also consists in the construction and arrangement of a recess in theupper part of that solid cehtral part or piece which contains the typefor the post-mark and date, and the postage-cancellation stamp ordevice, so as to form a ferrule upon and around the immediate lower endof such handle, and thus and thereby give greater strength anddurability to the same.

It also consists in the Inode or manner of securing the operating-handleto the said solid central part, or piece, or device containing said dieor type for postmarking, together with the date ofthe same, and also themode described for the forcing or removing of said cancelling-type ordie from its chamber or' socket, when it lmay for any cause becomedesirable to-replace the saine with a new or better one, and also fortheforcin g or removing from their proper place of the' post-marking anddating type, whenever it may be desirable to alter, or to change, orreplace the same with new or better ones.

One object in the said invention and instrument, for the purposes'herein described and setforth, is to produce a more compact, a morecertain and effectual instrnment or device, one that -shall operate withmore 4ease and with less tronbleto the operator, with both the post-markand dating-type o1' die, and the postagestamp-cancelling type or dieimmediately under and connected with the lower end of oneoperating-handle, by which and from which both ofthe impressions, thatis to say, the post-mark and date vand postage-stampcancellingimpressions sha-ll be effectually given by the operator at the sametime, and with but. one blow of the instrument.

To enable others skilled in the art to which my said invention andimprovements relate, to make and use the same, I will here proceed todescribe the same, which is substantially as follows, to wit:

A, represents that part which I denominate a central part or piece, andso constructed as to receive and contain the type forthe post-marking ofthe letter or packet, with the date on the saine, together with the nameof the post-oflce mailing the same, and also to receive, contain, andhold the die or device, for the eectnal'cancellation of thepostage-stamp upon such letter', envelope, or packet, at the Sametime,operation, and blow, by which the said post-mark and date are given onthe said letter, envelope, or packet, at or near such postage-stamp bythe means aforesaid.

'lo the upper part of this body or central piece, I attach the saidhandle B, iig. 2,

he lower end ofthis handle is so ,constructed as to be inserted into asuitable recess in the upper portion of such central piece o1'frame-work A, substantially At or near the centre of said recess G, Iconstruct and arrange the coupling-part or piece E, which is made of anysuitable material, and'screwed, or otherwise fastened to or into thesaid central piece or framework A, while the upper' end o1' portion,having a suitable screw out thereon, extends upward in the said,operating-handle B, in the manner substantially as shown at iig. 2.

This serves to firmly unite the 'said operatinghandle to the saidcentral frame or piece A,having the lower end thereof resting in, andsupported by, said' recess or chamber C, and. by the surrounding ange orferrnle, c and c, fig. 2.

I prefer to use cork for the cancelling-device or die,

v'for by that the ink-surface of the postage-stamp somewhat broken, andthereupon the said postagestamp becomes impregnated with the ink heldupon the face of, and within such cork-type or die at the time the blowof the instrument is given by the operator. l

The cork will contain a much greater quantity of ink than Vothermaterial, and being somewhat elastic, the same will yield a little `whenit comes in contact with the postage-stamp, and thus and thereby renderthe instrument more easy to use by the operator.

Through the centre of 'said cork cancelling-device may be arranged acentral and adjustable punch, which shall cut or punch a hole in orthrough said postagestamp, as a part of said cancellation in connectionwith the said cork cancellation.`

The said cork cancelling-device is inserted in a recess of suitablediameter and depth, formed by drilling or casting the same into the faceof the central piece or frame-work A, at any desired distance from thesaid post-marking device or type, in the manner substantially as shownat G, iig. 1, and G, tig. 2.

The said dieor cancelling-device may be forced or removed from its placeor recess in said central frame or piece A, by means of a. wire or othersuitable instrument being inserted at the aperture or hole d, iigs. 2and 3; and so may the dating-type contained in the mortis'e or recess H,iig. 2, be removed in similar manner and by similar means. y fis aset-screw, by which the removable types are properly-fastened in theirsocket during the operation of the instrument.

The said central frame or piece A may be of malleable cast-iron, andcase-hardenedv after all. engraving or cutting thereon is finished.

Instead ofthe cork cancelling-device, wood used endwise, or rubber, orother suitable material, may be used for the same purpose.

F, gs. l and 2, represents the name or post-oiiice, or other permanentmatter, arranged in relief letters around the removable dating-type, inthe usual way, and the same to be at anydesired distance from theaforesaid postage-stamp-cancelling die or device G, figs. 1 and 2, andupon the lower face of the said central piece A, substantially as shownat igs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

The invention and improvements contained in the several claims hereuntoannexed, and described, anzl of the town,

set forth, is and are not 'contained in the Letters Patent granted andissued on my invention, August 9,

1859, and issued to-me, bearing date the 16th day of December, 1862;also, April 14, 1863; also, the 23d day of August, 1864; also, the 15thday of August, 1865; and for and uponimprovements in post-officepost-marking and postage-stamp or revenue-stampcancelling instruments.Nor are the same contained in any device or instrument heretofore4invented by me for the postfmarking of letters, or for the cancellationof any postage or revenue-stamp; but the same are separate and distincttherefrom, and valuable,-

1. 'lhe combination of the central frame-piece A,

constructed in one piece, and containing the recesses G, and D, a-nd H,substantially as described, with the post-marking device F, and with thepostage-stampcancelling device G, in the manner, and for the purposes,substantially as herein described and set forth.

2. The arrangement and combination of the operating-handle B, with thecentral `part or piece A, containing the post-inarking device F, and thepostagestamp-cancelling die G, by means of the connectingpiece E, andfel-rule @substantially als herein described and set forth. v

3. The arr. ngement of the post-marking device F and thepostage-stamp-cancelling die G upon the face or lower part of thecentral frame orpiece A, coustructed as described, in the manner, andfor the purposes, substantially as described and set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have, on this 8th day of June, A. D. 1869,hereto set my hand, in presence ot' two witnesses, to wit: i

, MARCUS P. NORTON.

Witnesses:

G. A. C. SMi'rn, E. R. BROWN.

